Exhaust gas conditioner



May 11, 1954 J. P. RUTH 2,678,261

EXHAUST GAS CONDITIONER Filed May 10, 1952 30 30 I3 0 I] I3 v 4 I8 29 28 I5 29 I8 2829 I 28- 2? n I5 l8 -|o IO I 24 j 4 4 IO 16 f 6 INVEN TOR.

JOSEPH P. RUTH ATTORNEY Patented May 11,1954

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXHAUST GAS CONDITIONER Joseph P. Ruth, Denver, 0010.

Application May 10, 1952, Serial No. 287,141

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to internal combustion engine accessory equipment known as exhaust gas conditioners and adapted to treat the exhaust gas output of an associated engine to alter and purify the same for safe discharge within confined spaces and has as an object to provide a novel and improved conditioner unit efiiciently operable to apply and give effect to the principles disclosed in my copending applications for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 138,801, filed January 16, 1950, now Patent No. 2,611,680, issued September 23, 1952, and Serial No. 257,761, filed November 23, 1951, in the many particular positions the unit may assume when associated with a movably-mounted engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved exhaust gas conditioner unit operable in fixed relation with a movablymounted internal combustion engine to maintain a water charge in effective conditioning correlation with gas flow through the unit irrespective of the particular attitudes thereby assumed as the engine shifts with its mounting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved exhaust gas conditioner unit construction effective to substantially inhibit eiliuence of the unit water charge with the gas output from the unit in the various tilted attitudes of the latter incident to its operative association with a movably-mounted engine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a top plan view of a typical embodiment of the invention as constructed and arranged ready for practical use. Figure 2 is a vertical section longitudinally of the improved unit taken substantially on the indicated line 2--2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical section transversely of the improved unit taken substantially on the indicated line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a fragmentary, detail section, on a relatively enlarged scale, taken substantially on the indicated line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 and on a relatively reduced scale representing interior relationships obtaining in one tilted attitude of the improved unit. Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 on a relatively reduced scale and with portions broken away to conserve space representing interior relationships obtaining in a tilted attitude of the unit at right angles to that of Figure 5.

In the construction of the improved conditioner unit, as shown, a rigid, rectangular, opentop housing or container is represented as comprised from spacedly-parallel side walls I0, spacedly-parallel end walls H perpendicular to and marginally engaged with said side walls, and a bottom member I2 marginally sealed to lower edges of said side and end walls, thus to constitute, from any appropriate material and in any expedient manner, a housing closed save for its open top and the exceptions hereinafter noted and preferably characterized by a depth approximating or exceeding its length and a width on the order of one-half of such length. The otherwise open top of the housing is normally closed by means of a plate I3 marginally engaging upper edges of the housing side and end walls in spaced parallelism with the bottom member I2 in a sealed, removable and replaceable attachment thereto, as by means of bolts or studs I4 engaged through said plate and with a flange inturned from and along the side and end wall upper margins.

Fixed at its lower end to a central area of the bottom member I2, a tubular conduit l5 upstands from and in axially-perpendicular relation with said bottom member interiorly of the housin and through most of the housing depth to terminate in an open upper end sufficiently below the plate I3 to define a flow space therebetween, and like, imperforate partition members I6 fixedly closed against the side walls I 0, bottom member I2 and conduit I5 transversely of the housing and to span between opposite sides of the conduit and the housing side walls adjacent thereto in a height considerably less than that of the said conduit and approximating two-thirds the housing depth, thus to divide the central and lower portions of the housing into two like compartments from each of which access to the interior of the conduit I5 is had through apertures I1 opening oppositely through the base of the conduit on a diameter perpendicular to the plane of the partition members I6. Spacedly paralleling the housing end walls I! and more nearly adjacent to said walls than to the conduit I5, like, imperforate baffles l8 edge-close against the housing side walls I0 and seal at their upper margins against the plate I3 to depend interiorly of the housing for disposition of their free lower margins in a plane spacedly paralleling the housin bottom member I2 and intersecting the partition members I 6 adjacent and somewhat below the upper margins of the latter, thus to define end chambers in the upper portion of the housing, and similar fittings IE) on and separately opening through the plate i3 in communication with the respective said housing end chambers are intercom nected exteriorly of the housing by means of a line to provide an outlet from the housing through and common to both the end chambers thereof; one end opening of the so-constituted outlet preferably being plugged, as at 2i, and the other end opening of said outlet preferably delivering to and through a line 22 for discharge to atmosphere, expediently through a difiusing jet 23, or the like.

In a lilre spacing from and above the housing bottom member i2, angles 2% fixed to the housing end walls ii and the partition members it engage under the opposite ends of and removably and replaceably support rigid, open grids 25 in a disposition substantially below the lower margins of the baffles l8 spacedly paralleling the housing bottom member l2 and bridging entirely across the housing lower portion compartments separated by said members It, and a sheet 253 of reticulate or foraminous material is supported by and overlies each of the grids 25s to extend over and fill the space bridged by the latter, It is the function of the grids 25 and sheets to position and support diffusing and gas-modifying material, such as broken lime rock El, within and to substantially fill the central and upper zones of the housing interior in interrupting relation with the path of flow from the conduit 15 upper end, across the lower margins of the bafiles i8 and through the housing end chambers to the fittings 19, the so-supported material, such the lime rock 21, being charged within the housing when the plate i3 is removed to open the housing upper end and being supplied in an amount to rise well above the upper margins of the partition members it throughout the housing interior area, including the housing end chambers, and to a level approaching the upper end of the conduit [5. To firm the major body of the diffusing material in place and to hold it against displacement when and as the housing is rocked or tilted, a sheet 28 of reticulate or ioraminous material is worked and sized to embrace the upper end of the conduit l5 and to fill the space thereabout between the housing side walls It and baffles it in covering relation with the lime rock 2?, or other diffusing material,

exposed in such area, and rigid strips 29 are attached to and transversely of the upper surface of the sheet 28 in position to register with and be end-engaged by clamp screws 39 threadedly intersecting the plate i3, thus, through manipulation of said screws 30, to hold the sheet 28 in generally-parallel, spaced relation with the plate l3 and in compacting relation with the portion of the diffusing material charge it overlies.

Input to the housing of the gas to be treated therein is had through a tube 3i carried by and centrally intersecting the plate it for accommo dation within and registration coaxially with the conduit l5 when the said plate is place to close the housing. The tube M has an exterior diameter sufiiciently less than the interior diameter of the conduit 5 to leave an annular space therebetween when said tube is telescoped within the conduit, the said tube 31 is of a length adequate to extend from projection exteriorly of the plate it to disposition of its open, discharge end closely adjacent the housing bottom member 52, and the lower end of the tube 3| expediently car ries spacedly-parallel, longitudinally-projecting webs 32, conveniently the side legs of a yoke or stirrup, end-engageable with the housing bottom member E2 to determine the spacing of the tube discharge end thereabove and sized and disposed to spacedly register with and overlie the apertures ll at the base of the conduit, thus to divert discharge from the tube 3! lower end away from said apertures. Exteriorly of the housing, the upper end of the tube 31 engages a fitting 33 wherethrough connection is had, as by means of a line 3 with the exhaust gas line or manifold of the engine to be served, thus providing for delivery of the exhaust gas output of the engine through the tube 3! and to the base of the conduit i5.

Additional to its charge of diffusing material, the housing is supplied with a charge or body of water normally standing therein when the conduit I5 is vertical to a level just below the plane of the baflle 18 lower margins and convenient of determination through removal of threaded plug 35 normally closing a port at the desired level in one of the housing side walls It, and a cap 35 removably and replaceably closing an opening through the plate I3 provides convenient means for the incharge, and resupply, of water to the housing. Facilitative or maintenance and cleaning operations, removable and replaceable plugs 3'! normally close rain apertures opening from the separate housing lower portion compartments at the level of the bottom member i2.

In the practical use of the improved unit, the housing is installed in fixed relation with an en gine and its mount to dispose the axis of the conduit l5 vertical when said engine is in its normal and preferred attitude of use, the interior of the housing above the sheets 25 is charged with lime rock as above explained, the plate i3 is secured in place to close the top of the housing and to position the tube 3| within the conduit the screws 30 are tightened against the strips 29 to hold the sheet 28 in firming relation with the lime rock charge, the plugs 3'! are applied to close the drain apertures, water is introduced through the opening closable by the cap 36 until the water level reaches the port adapted to receive the plug 35, whereaiter said cap and plug are applied to close said opening and port, and the fitting 33 is coupled through the line cc to receive the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, thus readying the unit for its intended use and operation. As the exhaust gas discharge from the engine traverses and escapes from the lower end of the tube 3] within and at the base of the conduit l5 it is deflected from the apertures H by the webs 32 and rises, by virtue of its inherent buoyancy, through the annular space between the tube and conduit to expand from the upper end of the conduit through the housing interior above the lime rock charge; such uprise of the gas within the conduit I 5 entraining water which enters the base of the conduit through the apertures I! and spraying the so-entrained water over and with wetting effect upon the lime rock charge area covered by the sheet 28. There being no outlet for the gas from the housing save through the housing end chambers established by the bafiles IB and thence through the fittings H), the gas emerging from the upper end of the conduit I5 is constrained to penetrate and diffuse through the lime rock charge beneath the sheet 28 until it finds passage across the lower margins of the baffies 18 which enables it to rise through the lime rock charges of the housing end chambers to and through thefittings I9 and thence to exhaust through the outlet common to both said fittings provided by the lines 20 and 22; such transit of the gas through the unit and its charges functioning to cool, cleanse, purify,'and condition the gas in the manner and for the purposes elaborated in my earlier patent applications, above noted. 7

Where internal combustion engines are carried by movable mounts, such as tractors, road vehicles, and the like, the engine and its mount is often tilted in varying directions and to a quite considerable departure from its normal attitude, with corresponding tilting of the associated conditioner unit. In certain conditioner unit constructions, such tilting of the unit would result in undesirable evacuation of the unit water charge with the gas traversing the unit, hence an important feature of the present invention is the provision of the housing end chambers as established by the baffles l8 and as connected through the fittings l9 with a common outlet to atmosphere, all in association with the partition 16, since by virtue of the construction shown and described tilting of the unit in any direction and to a considerable divergence of the conduit I axis away from the vertical is accommodated without danger of water charge evacuation. As typified by Figure 5, tilting of the unit to oblique disposition of the unit end walls operates to raise the water level in the lower end chamber above the lower margin of the associated baffle [8, such rise of water level in the end compartment being minimized to an extent by the presence of the partition I6 in dividing relation with the water charge, but as the water level rises in the lower of the end compartments the level recedes from the other end compartment to open a path of diminished resistance through which the entire outflow of gas may pass to and for ultimate escape through the outlet lines. Similarly, as typified by Figure 6, tilting of the unit to oblique disposition of the unit side walls may function to submerge corresponding ends of the bailles [8 within the water charge, but at the same time the other ends of said bafiles are lifted well above the water level to open a low resistance travel path along which the gas may move to the housing end compartments and thence to and through the outlet lines, all without such flooding of the gas escape path as might operate to blow out or evacuate the water charge of the housing.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. An exhaust gas conditioner comprising a closed housing adapted to confine a liquid charge, a partition transversely bisecting said housing in a height less than that of the housing, a tubular conduit fixedly upstanding centrally of the housing with its upper end spaced below the housing top closure and communicating through its base with the housing on each side of said partition, baflles depending from the housing top closure below the level of the partition upper margin in spaced parallelism with and on the opposite sides of said partition to define end chambers in the housing upper portion, a common discharge line serving said end chambers exteriorly of the housing, a perforate sheet transversely bridging said housing perpendicular to said partition and spacedly below the baffle lower margins adapted to support an intersticed charge of alkaline material about the conduit upper portion and within lower portions of said end chambers, and means for introducing exhaust gases interiorly and adjacent the base of said conduit.

2. An exhaust gas conditioner comprising a closed housing adapted to confine a liquid charge, a partition transversely bisecting said housing in a height less than that of the housing, a tubular conduit fixedly upstanding centrally of the housing with its upper end spaced below the housing top closure and communicating through its base with the housing on each side of said partition, bafiles depending from the housing top closure below the level of the partition upper margin in spaced parallelism with and on the opposite sides of said partition to define end chambers in the housing upper portion, a common discharge line serving said end chambers exteriorly of the housing, grids bracket-supported on said partition and the housing end walls to transversely bridge the housing perpendicular to the partition and spacedly below the baiile lower margins, a perforate sheet overlying said grids adapted to support an intersticed charge of alkaline material about the conduit upper portion and to fill lower portions of said end chambers, and means for introducing exhaust gases interiorly and adjacent the base of said conduit 3. An exhaust gas conditioner comprising a closed housing adapted to confine a liquid charge, a partition transversely bisecting said housing in a height less than that of the housing, a tubular conduit fixedly upstanding centrally of the housing with its upper end spaced below the housing top closure and communicating through its base with the housing on each side of said partition, bafiles depending from the housing top closure below the level of the partition upper margin in spaced parallelism with and on the opposite sides of said partition to define end chambers in the housing upper portion, outlets from said end chambers through the housing top closure communicating with a common discharge line, grids bracket-supported on said partition and the housing end walls to transversely bridge the housing perpendicular to the partition and spacedly below the baflle lower margins, a perforate sheet overlying said grids adapted to support an intersticed charge of alkaline material about the conduit upper portion and to fill lower portions of said end chambers, and means for introducing exhaust gases interiorly and adjacent the base of said conduit.

4. An exhaust gas conditioner comprising a closed housing adapted to confin a liquid charge, a partition transversely bisecting said housing in a height less than that of the housing, a tubular conduit fixedly upstanding centrally of the housing with its upper end spaced below the housing top closure and communicating through its base with the housing on each side of said partition, bafiles depending from the housing top closure below the level of the partition upper margin in spaced parallelism with and on the opposite sides of said partition to define end chambers in the housing upper portion, outlets from said end chambers through the housing top closure communicating with a common discharge line, grids bracket-supported on said partition and the housing end walls to transversely bridge the housing perpendicular to the partition and spacedly below the baffle lower margins, a perforate sheet overlying said grids adapted to sup port an intersticed charge of alkaline material about the conduit upper portion and to fill lower portions of said end chambers, and a gas input tube coaxially within and spaced from the walls of said conduit sealed through the housing top closure with its delivery and adjacent the conduit base.

5. An exhaust gas conditioner comprising a closed housing adapted to confine a liquid charge, a plugged port in and above the altitudinal center of one of the housing walls employable to establish the level of a maximum housing liquid charge, a tubular conduit fixed centrally of and rising perpendicularly from the housing floor to terminate in an open upper end spaced from and below the housing top closure, like partition members aligned transversely of the housing in edge-closing relation with the housing iloor, side walls, and opposite sides of said conduit to intersect the plane paralleling the housing floor through said plugged port in a height less than that of said conduit, whereby to divide the liquid-chargeable housing portion into two like compartments, flow apertures opening through the base of said conduit to each of said compartments, baflies spacedly paralleling and on opposite sides of said partition members depending in edge-closing relation with the housing top closure and side walls slightly below the plane paralleling the housing floor through said plugged port, whereby to define like end chamhers in the housing upper portion, outlets from said end chambers through the housing top closure communicating with a common discharge line, a perforate sheet transversely bridging the housing in spaced parallelism with the housing floor below the lower margins of said bafiles adapted to support an intersticed charge of alkaline material about said conduit and within lower portions of said end chambers, and a gas input tube coaxially within and spaced from the walls of said conduit sealed through the housing top closure with its delivery end adjacent the housing fioor.

6. In an exhaust gas conditioner, a closed housing adapted to be partially charged with liquid, a perforate sheet transversely bridging said housing in spaced parallelism with the housing floor adapted to support an intersticed charge of alkaline material in the housing upper portion, means for introducing exhaust gas to the lower portion of the housing, means associated with said gas-introducing means and extending upwardly through said perforate sheet for circulation of the liquid charge through the housing portion above said sheet as an incident of gas input to the housing, a partition transversely bisecting the housing lower portion and extending above the perforate sheet, bafiies depending from the housing top closure in spaced parallelism with and on the opposite sides of said partition with their lower margins defining a lane upwardly spaced from and paralleling said perforate sheet below the partition upper margin to define end chambers in the housing upper portion, and outlets from said end chambers through the housing top closure communicating with a common discharge line.

7. In an exhaust gas conditioner having a closed housing adapted to be partially charged with liquid, 1a perforate sheet transversely bridging said housing in spaced parallelism with the housing floor adapted to support an intersticed charge of alkaline material in the housing upper portion, means for introducing exhaust gas to the lower portion of the housing, and means associated with said gas-introducing means and extending upwardly through said perforate sheet for circulation of the liquid charge through the housing portion above said sheet as an incident of gas input to the housing, means adapting the conditioner for use with mobile engine installations, said latte-r means comprising a partition transversely bisecting the housing lower portion and extending above the perforate sheet, bailies depending from the housing top closure in spaced parallelism with and on the opposite sides of said partition with their lower margins defining a plane upwardly spaced from and paralleling said perforate sheet below the partition upper margin to define end chambers in the housing upper portion, and outlets from said end chambers through the housing top closure communicating with a common discharge line.

8. In an exhaust gas conditioner having a closed housing adapted to be partially charged with liquid, a perforate sheet transversely bridging said housing in spaced parallelism with the housing floor adapted to sup-port an intersticed charge of alkaline material in the housing upper portion, means for introducing exhaust gas to the lower portion of the housing, and means associated with said gas-introducing means and extending upwardly through said perforate sheet for circulation of the liquid charge through the housing portion above said sheet as an incident of gas input to the housing, means adapting the conditioner for use with mobile engine installations, said latter means comprising a partition transversely bisecting the housing lower portion and extending above the perforate sheet, baiiies depending from the housing top closure in spaced parallelism with and on the opposite sides of said partition with their lower margins defining a plane upwardly spaced from and paralleling said perforate sheet below the partition upper margin to define end chambers in the housing upper portion, outlets from said end chambers communioating with a common discharge line, and a second perforate sheet bridging said housing between said bafiles in upwardly-spaced substantial parallelism with said first sheet and adjustable altitudinally of the housing to firm and immobilize a charge between said two sheets.

N 0 references cited. 

1. AN EXHAUST GAS CONDITIONER COMPRISING A CLOSED HOUSING ADAPTED TO CONFINE A LIQUID CHARGE, A PARTITION TRANSVERSELY BISECTING SAID HOUSING IN A HEIGHT LESS THAN THAT OF THE HOUSING, A TUBULAR CONDUIT FIXEDLY UPSTANDING CENTRALLY OF THE HOUSING WITH ITS UPPER END SPACED BELOW THE HOUSING TOP CLOSURE AND COMMUNICATING THROUGH ITS BASE WITH THE HOUSING ON EACH SIDE OF SAID PARTITION, BAFFLES DEPENDING FROM THE HOUSING TOP CLOSURE BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE PARTITION UPPER MARGIN IN SPACED PARALLELISM WITH AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PARTITION TO DEFINE END CHAMBERS IN THE HOUSING UPPER PORTION, A COMMON DISCHARGE LINE SERVING SAID END CHAMBERS EXTERIORLY OF THE HOUSING, A PERFORATE SHEET TRANSVERSELY BRIDGING SAID HOUSING PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PARTITION AND SPACEDLY BELOW THE BAFFLE LOWER MARGINS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT AN INTERSTICED CHARGE OF ALKALINE MATERIAL ABOUT THE CONDUIT UPPER PORTION AND WITHIN LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID END CHAMBERS, AND MEANS FOR INTRODUCING EXHAUST GASES INTERIORLY AND ADJACENT THE BASE OF SAID CONDUIT. 